Diverse postgraduates welcomed to Otago

Postgraduates from around the globe were welcomed to Otago at the annual Vice-Chancellor’s Garden Party at Abbey College on Tuesday afternoon. Photos: Sharron Bennett.

The diversity of Otago’s postgraduate cohort was on display at the annual Vice-Chancellor’s Garden Party this week.

The Garden Party is an annual event held to celebrate postgraduate students who have started their studies over the past year.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Harlene Hayne welcomed the students to Otago, and, in many cases to New Zealand and Dunedin, noting that they came from the four corners of the globe and were now spread across all four Divisions of the University.

Postgraduate study was the making of herself personally, she told those assembled, and although she could not promise those assembled an easy ride through their studies, she strongly believed their journey would be worth it.

Senior staff members from across the University were on hand to meet the new students during the event, which is held in the garden of Abbey College. The College is New Zealand’s only exclusively-postgraduate residential college.

Two cups were presented at the event this year, marking the inaugural celebration of postgraduate culture within University departments. The Cup for Excellence in Postgraduate Culture in a Large Department (30+ postgraduate students) was presented to the Department of Theology and Religion. The Cup for a Small Department (fewer than 30 students) went to the Centre for Sustainability.

The Head of Theology and Religion Associate Professor Will Sweetman and the Director of the Centre for Sustainability (CSAFE) Dr Janet Stephenson accept University of Otago Postgraduate Research Culture Excellence awards on behalf of their Departments. They won Best Large Department and Best Small Department respectively.